Liberated from the grand schemata that often weigh down his solo albums like literary concrete, well-crafted Pete Townshend tunes like ''A Friend Is a Friend'' and ''English Boy'' can now breathe alongside such glittering prizes as ''Let My Love Open the Door'' and ''A Little Is Enough'' on Coolwalkingsmoothtalkingstraightsmokingfirestoking. Gems are missing (''Let's See Action,'' ''Empty Glass''), but one listen to Townshend's masterpiece, ''Pure and Easy,'' and all is right with the world. B+
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